Technology is slowly taking over. Everywhere you turn someone is talking on their cell phone while driving/eating/shopping/watching a movie. We've got palm pilots and pocket MP3 players and cars that talk to you and give you directions. Is this all a good or bad? It's easy to make a strong argument for both.

On the one hand, it could be said that people are becoming more like the machines they use to manage their life. Who needs to feel something when a computer can do it for you? More and more people seem to favor instant gratification over anything substantial and possibly time consuming because it's easier that way.

Working with those ideas, writer Ellen Benjamin Wong and director Wayne Wang ("Anywhere But Here," The Joy Luck Club") have created "The Center of the World," a tale of two people struggling to maintain their indifference to the world around them.

Richard (Peter Sarsgaard of "Boys Don't Cry") is young and rich. He has made a fortune in tech stocks and spends all day and night sitting at a computer. Money doesn't really matter to him though. He doesn't do all that much with it and doesn't feel attached to anything. He kind of floats through life and casually observes everything as he moves along.

Florence (Molly Parker of "Wonderland") is a poor stripper playing drums in a band. Fiercely independent and street smart, Florence is just as unattached as Richard, not looking for anything that could slow her down or tie her down.

They meet by chance at a coffee shop one morning. Richard approaches her and mentions that he sees her there often. Clearly he is attracted to her. They chat briefly and she tells him what she does and where she works.

Before long Richard is a regular there. He quickly becomes intoxicated with her. It's more lust than anything. He doesn't know her and probably wouldn't care if she were a serial killer.

Richard proposes an idea to Florence. He'll give her $10,000 to go to Las Vegas with him for a weekend. He hasn't taken a vacation since becoming wealthy and, well, going with her would be a hell of a lot better than going alone. She'd be his private dancer.

Though reluctant at first, Florence needs the money. She agrees to go if he agrees to some ground rules. No kissing on the mouth. She only dances from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. And no intercourse. Not really thinking ahead, Richard doesn't object to the rules.

Of course, the more time the odd couple spends in Vegas, the more complicated their relationship becomes. Neither of them planned for what happens. Whether or not they are prepared to handle it is unclear.

"The Center of the World" is a provocative and visually arresting experience. Wang shot it on digital video and uses a lot of close ups, giving the grainy film an intimate, documentary-like feel.

Though not for all tastes, the movie deals realistically and frankly with this particular relationship and stays true to the characters throughout. It's sexually graphic but never gratuitous. This is the world these two people inhabit.

The film's only weakness is its failure to develop any background for Richard and Florence. We find out next to nothing about their pasts, which makes it more difficult to figure them out. How did they get the way they are? It's never clear.

That small quibble aside, "The Center of the World" is a compelling and rewarding film. A brutally honest examination of an extremely adult relationship, it's not the type of movie that comes along very often.

Grade: A-

"The Center of the World" opens Fri., June 1 at the Downer Theater. It's not rated but for mature audiences only.